Did BJP 'play' with Sanjay Nishad? First the MLA was gone, now the seat is in danger

UP By Election / Did BJP 'play' with Sanjay Nishad? First the MLA was gone, now the seat is in danger

UP By Election - Did BJP 'play' with Sanjay Nishad? First the MLA was gone, now the seat is in danger

UP By Election: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has finalized its strategy for the by-elections to be held on ten assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. An important meeting of the top leadership of the party was held in Delhi on Sunday regarding these elections, in which UP leaders also participated. In this meeting, it was decided that BJP will field its candidates on 9 seats and one seat will be given to Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). The special thing is that BJP has also planned to field its candidate on Majhawan seat, which is under the influence of Nishad Party, due to which the political tussle with party chief Sanjay Nishad has intensified.

Nishad Party's demand and BJP's political 'game'

Regarding the by-election, Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad had claimed two seats—Majhawan and Katehari. In the 2022 assembly elections, Nishad Party contested both these seats under an alliance with BJP. His party MLA was elected on Majhawan seat, who became MP from Bhadohi on BJP ticket in 2024. Therefore, the Nishad Party was hoping that both the seats would be given to them again in these by-elections.

However, the BJP has rejected their demand and decided to field its candidate on the Majhawan seat, due to which the Nishad Party is in danger of losing this seat. Sanjay Nishad met BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary on Saturday and reiterated his demand, but his hopes have been dashed.

Meerapur seat in RLD's account

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, State President Bhupendra Chaudhary, and Organization General Secretary Dharampal Singh attended this important meeting. It was decided in the meeting that the Meerapur seat would be left for RLD, which was already with RLD. However, the Nishad Party will not be given any seat in the by-election, and BJP will field its candidate on the Majhawan seat as well.

The BJP has entrusted Bhupendra Chaudhary and Deputy Chief Minister Maurya with the responsibility of talking to Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad, so that he can be persuaded.

What stand will Sanjay Nishad take on BJP's decision?

Nishad Party MLA from Majhawan assembly seat Vinod Kumar Bind was fielded by BJP from Bhadohi seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and he won and became an MP. After this, a by-election was required on the Majhawan seat. Now, BJP has prepared to field its own candidate on this seat by not giving a chance to Nishad Party. It will be interesting to see whether Sanjay Nishad, a minister in the Yogi government, agrees to this formula of BJP or not.

However, the party has started trying to persuade him, but if he does not agree, it could be a sign of a rift in the alliance. Only after Sanjay Nishad's reaction will it be known whether he will accept this decision of BJP or choose a different path.

BJP's political risk and Nishad Party's failure

The BJP has taken this decision for the by-election keeping in mind the performance of the Lok Sabha elections. The performance of the Nishad Party was weak in the 2024 elections. Sanjay Nishad's son Praveen Kumar Nishad, who was contesting from Sant Kabir Nagar seat, lost the election, while this seat is considered to be Nishad dominated. In view of this failure, the BJP does not want to take any political risk in the upcoming by-election and has decided to field a candidate on Majhawan seat on its own.

Preparation for 2027: By-election is a 'semi-final' for BJP

The UP by-elections are being considered as the semi-finals of the 2027 assembly elections. Therefore, the BJP wants to win this election at any cost. This is the reason why the party has reserved the Majhawan seat for itself instead of the Nishad Party. It is clear from this move of the BJP that it wants to make a strong hold on every seat in the upcoming elections.

Now all eyes are on the meeting between Sanjay Nishad and the central leadership, where it will be decided whether the Nishad Party will remain with the BJP in this by-election or will make a new strategy for itself.